Escrow Companies serving Odessa, TX
If you are in the market to sell your home, it's always a smart idea to consult escrow companies for advice. Our real estate title company offers several pieces of advice to facilitate and accelerate the sale of your home:
Clean Everything
– It’s one of the simplest ways to make your home look appealing to prospective buyers. A dirty home will only make prospective buyers more attentive to finding problems with the home.
Declutter
– Get rid of stuff that is just taking up space. Have a moving sale and throw away or donate anything you cannot sell. The less stuff your home has in it, the roomier it seems, making it more attractive to potential buyers
Let the Light In
– Open blinds, raise shades, pull back curtains, put brighter bulbs into lamps and light sockets. The brighter your space is, the more welcoming it will appear to potential buyers, as opposed to dark and gloomy rooms.
Freshen Up
– Open windows to let in fresh air and get rid of odors that may be unfamiliar or unpleasant. Potential owners will be turned off by any smell out of the ordinary, including pets, tobacco, mustiness, etc. Potpourri and fresh flowers can improve the smell of the air in your home, as well as baking fresh bread or cookies.
Fix Anything That is Broken
– Anything that a potential buyer can find wrong with the house should be dealt with quickly. From simple things like switchplate covers and light bulbs to plumbing, windows, screens, and everything else, you never want to show a buyer what he or she will have to do to fix up the place, and the buyer will probably offer you less for the house and still insist that everything be fixed before closing. If you leave the potential buyer nothing to be concerned about, then they will have little reason to offer a lower price.
Send the Pets Away
– You never know how people will respond to even the most well-behaved of pets. Some people are intimidated by all animals, or they may even be allergic to them. Your pets could also become intimidated, causing them to have accidents, which no prospective buyer wants to see.
Send the Kids Away
– As with pets, you never know how a prospective buyer will respond to even the most well-behaved children. Sending the kids to grandma’s or to the movies for the afternoon will also give you a more professional setting in which to show the home.
Paint
– A quick coat of paint can breathe new life into any interior and will improve the value of your home. Be sure to stick with light, neutral colors, as they tend to give the illusion of space and are much easier to deal with in terms of decorating and remodeling.
Keep Noise Down
– When showing your home, it is important to eliminate any and all unnecessary noise. You should turn off the television and radio, although soft instrumental music is fine. If necessary, close the windows to eliminate any street noise.
You should also try to fix squeaky floorboards, don’t run any noisy equipment such as a vacuum cleaner or power tools while people are looking at your home, and, if possible, ask your neighbors to avoid any irksome noises.
Comfortable Temperature
– Be sure to have the house at a comfortable temperature for the given season. If it’s cold outside, and you have a fireplace, a nice fire will make your home seem cozy and inviting, also providing an excellent selling point.
Be Available
– In case prospective buyers have questions, but don’t crowd them.
Features
– Provide a thorough written list of the features of your home.
Questions
– Answer questions professionally and truthfully, but don’t volunteer any information.
Travel Time
– Know the distances to schools and shopping centers.
Stay Back
– Let the home and the salesperson do most of the selling.
Refer
– any prospect who calls or comes by to your broker for pre-screening and pre-qualification, as well as for your own safety.
Home Warranty
– Provide a home warranty and promote it.
Inform Your Agent
– Tell your real estate agent all about the home — good and bad, and let the professional decide how to handle any negatives and feature or highlight the positives.
Know What Escrow Means for You
- When you accept an offer, an escrow company steps in to securely hold funds and important paperwork, including your deed and earnest money, until all terms of the sale are met. This neutral process protects both you and the buyer and helps ensure that the transaction moves smoothly toward closing.
Review and Understand Title Insurance
- There are different types of title insurance, such as lender’s title insurance, which protects the buyer’s lender, and owner’s title insurance, which can protect the buyer’s ownership rights after closing. As the seller, in many markets, you’ll be asked to cover the cost of the buyer’s title insurance policy. This helps clear the way for the transfer of ownership.
Schedule Title Services Early
- Title services, including title searches, preparation of deeds, and the issuance of title insurance, are central to a successful sale. Starting this process early with a trusted real estate title company can help uncover any issues in public records well before closing day.
Clear Title Issues Before Listing
- If any unpaid liens, judgments, or ownership disputes show up during a title search, they must be resolved before closing. Clearing these up ahead of time can help reduce delays and keep the sale on track.
Work with Your Real Estate Attorney or Agent
- In some areas, a real estate attorney will assist with escrow and closing documents alongside your title company. They can help interpret legal requirements, review contracts, and confirm that all documents are prepared and recorded correctly.
Communicate with Your Escrow Officer
- Staying in touch with the escrow officer can give you clarity on timelines, what paperwork you still need to provide, and when funds will be disbursed. Clear communication helps keep the closing process efficient.
Understand Closing Costs Related to Title Services
- Some title services come with costs, such as recording fees or fees associated with document preparation and escrow. Knowing what to expect ahead of time can help you plan your net proceeds from the sale.
